Ethan... Ethan... Could this be jealousy? Over the girl you swore just this morning you were only seeing for the fun?
I bring a hand to Charlie's wrist, drawing her attention back to me, and I don't miss the slight pursing of lips Ethan lets show, or the girl's slight shiver under my skin. This is getting better and better.
I turn the laptop more in her direction and ask about the formula I set up to apply to the data, finally getting her full attention again.
Time seems to slip by more slowly than normal inside the room, alternating between Charlie teaching me things, me coming up with random topics to find out more about the girl, and Ethan striking up conversation with her every now and then too, keeping her attention from being only on me.
"Think you can finish from here?" Charlie asks at the end of the session, nodding toward the paper where she wrote a bunch of instructions for me. I nod quickly in agreement, but I don't even really need to answer, because Ethan takes the lead.
"Oh, he can. You practically drew him a picture," he needles, without even disguising the light anger in his voice. I swallow a laugh and make my best pitiful face.
"Yeah, I guess I had a lot more questions than I expected. Good thing I found Charlie here today." My answer makes him narrow his eyes, and Charlotte springs to her feet.
"Happy to help, but I have to go now, I've got class in twenty minutes and I still need to meet my cousin to go over a problem with her," she warns, hurriedly putting all her stuff intoher backpack. I stand too, just tucking the computer under my arm. I run a hand across the teacher's assistant's back and plant a kiss on her rosy cheek before she can escape.
"Thanks. And have a good class. I'll definitely be showing up more often at this time," I assure her, and I watch her skin redden down to the top of her chest, unfortunately covered by the square-neck top she's wearing. Ethan clears his throat, already on his feet, and shooting daggers at me with his eyes. I break into my best smile in his direction. "See you at home, Tanny!"
I say my goodbyes and walk off whistling, sure my friend was going to strangle me later, but I was way too entertained to care.
Chapter 12
Ethan
I'm going to kill Logan Hayes. Rip out every single damn blond hair stuck to that shameless face!
First, though, I was going to replace the flush on Charlie's skin caused by my friend with a much better heat generated by me.
As soon as Logan leaves the room, I turn to Charlie and she looks back at me, seeming unsure what to say. I don't want to talk about what just happened here, or about what I'm feeling that's dangerously starting to look like jealousy, so I go for the easy way out.
Distraction. For me as much as for her.
"Do you really need to go meet your cousin?" I ask, and she blinks repeatedly before stammering an answer.
"Right this second, no. I just..." Before she has to think up an excuse, I'm already pulling her into my arms and pressing her mouth to mine.
I kiss her eagerly, like I've wanted to since I dropped her off at home the night before and hoped to manage sooner, when I decided to come study in her lab. I ask for passage with my tongue past her lips and she gives in, invading my mouth back with the same hunger.
I bring one hand to her nape and with the other I take the backpack hanging off her shoulder, dropping it any old way on the table. When her hands invade my hair, I press her against the furniture with no shame at all.
When the kiss finally ends, we're both out of breath. I look at her, and her languid expression of desire is replaced by a startled one, which makes her pull back a little from me and then check whether there's anyone around who might have seen us.
"Have you lost your mind?" she asks, and I shrug.
"Probably. And it's your fault. Do something crazy with me?" I venture, pressing our bodies together again. I start trailing soft kisses down her bare neck.
"What are you talking about?"
I tighten my fingers around the slim waist and aim for the pretty light eyes.
"A quickie. Now. In that bathroom." I nod toward the door, and Charlie's jaw drops.
"Here? Like... now?"
"Yes. I can't stop thinking about you since yesterday," I state, and it's not a lie. I run my nose along her shoulders, taking in the sweet scent of her skin mixed with the light fabric softener on her clothes. "I swear I'll make it worth it."
We stare at each other for a few seconds and I watch as desire wins the battle against reason. I can't help the shameless smile that escapes. I plant one last kiss before pulling her by the hand to the study room's bathroom.
I press her against the door the moment we get through it and I attack her mouth like a desperate man. I barely remember to slide the lock and hope nobody decides to show up at this hour.
